Teens Help Catch Boat Thieves Using Camera Drone

It appears camera drones are after all really useful tools provided, they are in the right hands. There has been a lot of negative news flowing in the media about insensible drone pilots. News such as drones interfering with firefighting efforts or nearly crashing a police chopper or when a drone pilot crashed a drone on a woman’s head seriously injuring her. There are, however, exceptions in every aspect of life. This is one such exception. Two kids decided to use the power of a camera drone to do a bit of crime fighting. They chased some boat thieves with their camera drone and helped law enforcement officers apprehend them.

Chris Harris, a 14-year old from San Francisco Bay Area and his friend were holidaying on Camano Island in Washington State earlier this week. They were staying at their family vacation home and tied their boat to a buoy near the place.

On the day of the incident the loud sound of motor boat engine woke them up. They noticed some mysterious characters trying to steal their boat. The thieves tied the kids’ boat to their speedboat and took off.

The boys immediately called 911. But before help could arrive Chris had a brilliant brainwave. He quickly pressed his drone camera into action. The DJI Phantom with a 4K camera, a gift from his parents, took off in no time. It followed the thieves as they were making a getaway in their speedboat with the boys’ boat in tow.

It was a chase like no other you have ever seen. Certainly not Sgt. Scott Fague of the Camaro Island Sheriff’s Department. The thieves travelling at nearly 50 mph eventually managed to give the flying vigilante the slip. However, when law enforcement officers saw the video clip they figured out where the boat was headed. The thieves arrived straight into a welcoming party at their destination. They were arrested for their little misadventure.

Rajib’s love for the road is second only to his love for photography. Wanderlust at heart and a shutterbug who loves to document his travels via his lenses; his two passions compliment each other perfectly. He has been writing for over 6 years now, which unsurprisingly, revolve mostly around his two favourite pursuits.